After a long break prolonged by the health crisis, the French Superbike Championship is finally resuming its rights in a new format of 5 events. On the Nevers Magny-Cours Circuit, the French Motorcycling Federation and the MC Nevers et de la Nièvre will host, on August 1 and 2, the first stage of the season which will take place behind closed doors. Another new feature for this 2020 financial year, the young drivers of the Supersport 300 and Pré-Moto3 will be grouped together within the same grid.
SUPERBIKE 1000: TOTAL SUSPENSE FOR THE OPENING OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Champion two races before the end, Mathieu GINES showed pragmatism throughout the 2019 season to win. After his title, he returned to Superbike to try to double the stakes. However, he changes his mount and will have to tame the Yamaha of Team Tech Solutions fitted with its Michelin tires.
This year, the former teammate of the 2019 Champion, Kenny FORAY (BMW MDS – Dunlop), will participate in the entire Championship! The latter often deprived GINES of victory last year by winning 5 of the 8 races in which he participated. There is no doubt, the ex-MotoE rider will be a tough opponent…
The paddock also finds Axel MAURIN (Yamaha CMS – Michelin) and Morgan BERCHET (Yamaha – Pirelli) who will be present at the annual meeting from the Nivernaise stage. Prominent members of the Top 5 last season, they are undoubtedly among the favorites for 2020. In the same vein, Louis BULLE (Yamaha – Pirelli) will not fail to recall the qualities which led him to the title of French Supersport 600 Champion in 2018.
A new arrival in the category, the world-renowned rider, Alan TECHER (BMW Tecmas – Michelin), former Moto3 rider, joins the prestigious BMW Tecmas team as a luxury resident. Is the new protégé of Team manager Michel Augizeau able to stand up to the big names in the category?
Other distinguished Superbike riders, Matthieu LUSSIANA (Yamaha) and David MUSCAT (Ducati – Michelin) will take the start with the ambition of playing the leading roles. A defector from the Promosport 1000, the premier category paddock sees Florent TOURNE (Yamaha CMS – Michelin) return to the French Superbike Championship. After a mixed season in Supersport in 2016, he headed to the Promosport 1000 to emerge victorious in 2019, is he ready to compete with the best French drivers? It is certain that we must keep an eye on the performance of the rider and his Yamaha No. 30.
We also see the participation of Albigensian rider Valentin DEBISE, he will showcase his international experience within Twist Ring Racing aboard a Kawasaki fitted with Dunlop tires.
In Superbike Challenger, still within the Suzuki LMS team, Clément STOLL (Suzuki – Dunlop) and Johan NIGON (Suzuki – Dunlop) seem to be the best equipped. Two drivers with different but promising profiles join the Challenger category, Martin RENAUDIN (Yamaha – Pirelli), 2nd in Supersport Challenger 600 last year and the Swiss Sébastien SUCHET (Kawasaki Twist Ring Racing – Dunlop), who finished 4rd of the French Superbike Championship in 2018, will compete within the Twist Ring Racing team for the first stage at Magny-Cours.
At their side, the driving forces of the field like Guillaume ANTIGA (Honda – Michelin), Nicolas ESCUDIER (Yamaha Tech Solutions – Pirelli), Steven NEUMANN (Yamaha – Michelin), and young outsiders such as Alexis LAMIRE (Yamaha – Michelin ) winner of the European Bikes in the Twins category last year, risk causing a stir. And what about young Joseph FORAY (Yamaha)? Coming from the World Supersport 300, he is involved with the Fouloi Racing Team for this season.
SUPERSPORT 600: BAU BACK TO SHINE AGAIN?
Undisputed and indisputable French champion of the Supersport 600 in 2019, Maximilien BAU (Yamaha – Michelin) can dream of the double. A dream that seems achievable considering his performances last season. The rider of the Yamaha no. 108 won twice on the Nevers Magny-Cours Circuit a year ago and will have the opportunity to repeat at the opening of the Championship.
It is a vengeful Guillaume RAYMOND (Yamaha) who will find the reigning Champion. While he was announced as the favorite last season, RAYMOND only won once in 2019. Has he found solutions to dethrone BAU this season?
However, watch out for the return of Cédric TANGRE (Triumph – Pirelli), Supersport Champion in 2017, he is riding a Triumph this season and is undoubtedly keen to regain his leadership position.
A formidable competitor in 2019, Guillaume POT (Yamaha – Dunlop) is also able to claim the title. Among the strong men in the category, we also find Corentin BRENON (Triumph – Dunlop) and Yvan LAETZIG (Yamaha – Michelin).
In Supersport Challenger, the highest step of the podium could logically smile on Matthieu GREGORIO (Yamaha – Pirelli), however, Charles CORTOT (Yamaha – Pirelli) and Ludovic CAUCHI (Yamaha – Pirelli) will also be serious contenders. Author of a good end to the Championship, CORTOT also brings together some good prospects for 2020.
Other young and talented riders from the Supersport 300 are joining the category, notably Lucien VAUDRY (Yamaha – Pirelli), Charles AUBRIE (Yamaha – Continental), and Luca CERSOSIMO (Yamaha).
At the start in Magny-Cours, the Winner of Objectif Grand Prix / Pré-Moto 3 in 2019, Vincent FALCONE (Yamaha – Dunlop) will prove himself against the big names.
SUPERSPORT 300 – GRAND PRIX OBJECTIVE (PRE-MOTO 3): TWO CATEGORIES FOR TWICE THE SHOW
Like the Superbike and Superbike Challenger, the Supersport 300 and the OGP will be grouped together this season. Two separate rankings will be established in parallel with the scratch.
Following the migration of many riders to other categories, the outsiders aim to enter the Top 3, we find Exupéry BEAUMONT (Yamaha – Dunlop), and Louis LAGRIVE (Kawasaki – Dunlop) with the knife between their teeth ! If these two boys appear to be the favorites due to their experience in the category, they will nevertheless have to be wary of Guillaume JUCHA (Yamaha), a Supersport 600 regular!
On the other hand, Marc FONTAN, the former Grand Prix rider, returns this year as Team manager of FT Racing Academy with a team with international ambitions made up of Line VIEILLARD (Yamaha – Michelin), Colin DRYE (Yamaha – Michelin) and Lucas SASSONE (Yamaha – Michelin). The 3 drivers will certainly be something to follow throughout the season.
After distinguishing himself in Promosport 400, Gregory CARBONNEL (Yamaha – Pirelli) joins the Supersport 300. The driver of the Yamaha n°10 does not intend to be content with the role of extra…
Please note, some technical developments have taken place this year within the Supersport 300, particularly in terms of the intake flange. All of the information : https://fsbk.a3web.fr/evolutions-techniques-majeures-fsbk-et-promosport-2020/
The category now becomes accessible from 14 to 22 years old.
In Objectif Grand Prix, the formula that we nickname “the antechamber of the Grands Prix”, sees Vincent FALCONE migrate to the Supersport 600, new drivers will therefore put on the show this year. From the Magny-Cours stage, we find the Spaniard Léandro SANS QUINTANS (Beon Yamaha) or the very young Nathan AMIRAULT (Moriwaki) alongside some regulars in the category like Clément GIABBANI (Moriwaki) and Elie ROUSSELOT (Moriwaki) , who will gain the upper hand at Magny-Cours? Célia RICHELMI (Beon Yamaha) joins this season’s group.
SIDE-CAR: TWO CHAMPIONS FOR ONE THRONE
“The immovable” Champion of France, Sébastien DELANNOY puts his title back on the line after winning a 14th coronation in 2019! For the first meeting of the year, the Champion will team up with Nicolas BIDAULT.
In 2020, Stéphane GADET also responds to the call of the F1 category, supported by a teammate: Clotilde SALMON.
For his part, Kévin ROUSSEAU changes sides and will form a duo with the multiple English World Champion Tim REEVES aboard a 600cc long chassis. For the Magny-Cours stage, REEVES / ROUSSEAU is undeniably one of the favorites. Second in the scratch last year, VINET / VINET, is back aboard his 600cc, will he be able to find the fault against his formidable opponents? An emblematic figure of the category, LE BAIL / LEVEAU and its side with “snake” paint is present to slip into the forefront.
Previously in 1000cc, the BARBIER / RIGONDEAU crew changed machine and opted for a long 600cc chassis. Following a season concluded at the gates of the Top 10, MOREAU is paired with FARNIER aboard the 600cc n°13, will he do better this year? Considering its 6rd place in the general classification, Paul LEGLISE can hope for good results this year also alongside Sébastien LAVOREL and their side n°521.
In F2, it is naturally CHANAL / LAVOREL which inherits the status of favorite after a successful season allowing it to rank 7th overall and finish 1st in its category. As a luxury challenger, Pierre LEGUEUN will team up with Sarah CESCUTTI, this new crew composition can give the favorite a hard time…
The Franco-Belgian Side LEBLOND / CLAEYS and that of LEBLOND / RIGOT will also be ones to watch for the F2 podium, just like HICKS / CAPDEVILLE and CROCHEMORE / MORIN.
EUROPEAN BIKES: GENTLEMEN RIDERS BACK IN 2020
The category of European machines, Aprilia, Ducati, BMW and KTM, will also be present in 2020. The gentlemen riders will find the regulars Léo CHALLAMEL, the BRUNET-LUGARDON family with Cyril and Florian or even Alexandre LELEU and many others.
NEW FOR 2020: SUPPORT RACES
At each event, the FFM and the organizing clubs offer supporting races whose categories will change at each stage of the Championship. Here is the program, to date, for the 2020 season:
Magny-Cours: VMA French Championship
Carole Circuit: MiniGP
Lédenon: Challenge Proclassic
Pau Arnos: Challenge Proclassic
Nogaro: VMA
FOLLOW THE 2020 FRENCH FE-SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Fsbk.fr, the website dedicated to the French Superbike Championship, always offers live coverage of the weekend's news, detailed information, photos, results, videos, etc.
For this 2020 season, the FFM will broadcast each evening of the event a video of the best moments of the day on the official FSBK Facebook page and the fsbk.fr website.
Other meetings will punctuate the weekend through a system specifically focused on social networks via Twitter: @FSBK_officiel, Facebook: fsbk, Youtube: ffmfbk and Instagram: fsbk
CALENDAR 2020
August 1 and 2 – Magny-Cours (58) – Moto Club Nevers et de la Nièvre
August 22 and 23 – Circuit Carole (93) – MC Motors Events
September 12 and 13 – Lédenon (30) – MC Lédenon
October 17 and 18 – Pau Arnos (64) – Moto Club Pau Arnos
October 24 and 25 – Nogaro (32) – ASM Armagnac Bigorre
